Well, it was a wonderful evening last night at Cody's in Berkeley. Clotilde was in fine form. She was introduced by Derrick (I think that's his name) from the Obsession with Food blog. He was one of a handful of food bloggers when she got started in 2003. There were probably 50+ folks there and I think fewer than half were familiar with the blog (that was what I could see from my vantage point, when she asked for a show of hands), so she talked about how she morphed herself from a software engineer into a blogger and subsequently a cookbook author. It was interesting to hear it, even though I am very familiar with the story. She is very animated in person - no, REALLY!

I expected her to look weary after this whirlwind tour, but she was as fresh and vibrant as could be! This is kind of a homecoming for her. She mentioned that she spent the day in Mountain View -where she and Maxence worked for 2 years - yesterday, and she has many friends in this part of the world. She spoke for about 20 minutes and then answered questions for another 20 minutes or so. As always, in Berkeley, it was quite a diverse group of folks - young, old, men, women etc. etc. etc. I brought 3 books with me and bought another one there for her to sign. She was very "sympa" and posed for a pic with anyone who asked.

I may drag a friend to the Ferry Building on Saturday to see her again. It's hard to resist the Ferry Building and its Farmer's Market on a warm, sunny Saturday in May! I will be hoping to meet Lilia there. I am glad for her that she has today free to rest - and eat!_________________L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais

What an exciting Saturday afternoon at the Ferry Building with Clotilde (in person, I couldn't believe my luck). How charmins she is and she lights up the room when she smiles.

Clotilde started with her life in Mountain View as a new graduate of computer science studies to intern and all her adventures in California and how the concept of starting the food blog at the very beginning and meeting all the would be friends and of course her "philosophie de cuisine" which we are all familiar with. It is almost like being with her in everything she's done - much like how I feel when I read her posts. Too bad for me, I had to leave as soon as she signed my book as I had to go to Mountain View to babysit my three-year old granddaughter.

DONNA, if you were there, I'm sorry to have missed you. Next time, I promise to stick around longer.

The cookbook is wonderful! What a wonderful way it was organized - great reading besides - something one can cozy up with near the fire enjoying all the vignettes that accompany each recipe. The pictures Clotilde took and used are so great. Knowing that it is natural (no lacquer or chemicals sprayed on them) and still edible just adds to the enjoyment of the whole.

We are all looking forward to the next book - due next year - another booksigning in San Francisco - possibly a get together for members of the Chocolate & Zucchini Forum members._________________"A man hath no better thing under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry."